Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device, according to the present invention, taking the form of a scroll with handle ( 201 ) and spool-rod shaft ( 202 ) for rolling and unrolling printed flexible material ( 400 ) and a tubular housing ( 300 ) with an internal chamber—a floating cowling—freely rotatable over said wound spool-rod from which the printed material is extendable. The scroll text ( 400 ) or image to be viewed is manually extendable by pulling it through a continuous longitudinal slot ( 301 ) in the cowling with a pull-tab ( 501 ) which also prevents the printed material from being irretrievably drawn into the cowling. The cowling is rotatably received at its open ends over the spool-rod by a pair of opposed retaining/aligning yokes. The invention improves on traditional scrolls by providing protective containment for the printed material without requiring the containment&#39;s separation to display it. The cowling and handle are adaptable as works of art related to the printed material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device particularly adaptedto expose flexible printed material through a protective and decorativefreely rotatable tubular housing—a floating cowling—requiring no removalto expose or re-contain the printed material

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior containments for flags, scrolls, posters, maps and the like wererequired to be removed or deliberately opened or separated from theprinted material they contain and therefore increased the amount of timeand effort required before using the device for its principal functionsof displaying the printed subject matter and its effective containment.Other containment/dispensing means required the device be fixed to asubstantial structural support eliminating the portability of the devicewhile in use whereas the present invention is hand-held. This devicemanifests a further improvement on other containment/dispensing meansfor rolled printed material in that it does not utilize springs, gears,motors or any other mechanical method more complicated than manualretraction and extension by simply rotating one's wrist and fingers. Thefollowing disclosures relate to various partial solutions to the problemof efficiently incorporating types of housings for display devices suchthat the housing's separation from the device is not required toeffectively display the printed material therein:

Seidel (U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,800, issued Mar. 21, 2000); Haas (U.S. Pat.No. 5,924,869, issued Jul. 20, 1999); Stanley (U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,197,issued Dec. 5, 2000); Jennings (U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,571, issued May 2,1989); Welsh (Can. Patent No. 2,160,612, filed Oct. 16, 1995); Cornell(U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,392, issued Aug. 24, 1982); Hasten (U.S. Pat. No.6,006,900, issued Dec. 28, 1999); Augustine (U.S. Patent Application No.20020056214 Ser. No. 09/862,142, filed May 2, 2001). The inventorsbelieve that the cited disclosures taken alone or in combination neitheranticipate nor render obvious the present invention. The foregoingcitation does not constitute an admission that such disclosures arerelevant or material to the claimed subject matter, rather, thedisclosures relate only to the general fields of the invention and arecited as constituting the closest art of which the inventors are aware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a mechanically minimizedhand held display device that exposes text and/or images to be viewed inentirety or in incremental portions of a flexible material adapted to bemanually extendable from and retractable into, the interior of a tubularhousing that freely rotates over the spool-rod—the essence anddistinguishing feature of the present invention—around which theflexible material is wrapped.

The display device comprises five principle parts:

-   -   (a) an axial shaft comprising two rotationally and axially fixed        sections those being a handle means and a spool-rod means which        is of a substantially reduced diameter with respect to the        internal diameter of the tubular housing so that ample spacing        is left within the tubular housing around the spool-rod for the        disposition of the printed flexible material;    -   (b) a tubular housing portion—hereafter to be understood for the        present invention as a floating cowling—of a semi-rigid plastic        material that is capable of manual elastic deformation that        permits a snap-on fit over retaining/aligning yokes where it is        receivable and freely rotatable around aforesaid spool-rod means        and which protects, contains and from which the printed material        can be extended through a longitudinal axial slot;    -   (c) two retaining/aligning yokes—hereafter to be understood for        the present invention as the mid-shaft and distal        retaining/aligning yokes—axially and rotationally fixed to the        axial shaft, one yoke located mid-shaft between the handle and        spool-rod sections of the axial shaft and the other yoke at the        distal end of the spool-rod section, and both with facing raised        annular circumferential ridges recessed from the yokes' outer        rim, both fixed perpendicular to the axial shaft and in parallel        planes to each other and of a distance apart substantially equal        to the longitudinal length of the floating cowling such that        they not only effectively close the floating cowling open ends        but also rotationally support and axially align the cowling over        the spool-rod section;    -   (d) a pull-tab means fixed to the free end of the printed        flexible material which is used to facilitate the manual        extension of the printed material from within the floating        cowling and to prevent the free end of the printed material from        being completely drawn inside the tubular housing as it is being        rewound and furthermore, on fill retraction, to seal the        longitudinal slit in the floating cowling completing the        protective enclosure of the printed material contained therein;        and    -   (e) the flexible printed material.

In another aspect of this invention, the distal retaining/aligning yokeis detachably joined to the spool-rod shaft distal end which is threadedto be received by a threaded blind hole in the centre of the distalyoke. In this aspect, the floating cowling is lowered over the spool-rodshaft, its proximal open end being internally received by a raisedannular circumferential ridge recessed from the perimeter on the facingplane of the mid-shaft retaining/aligning yoke, then rotatably retainedin a longitudinally aligned position around the spool-rod shaft byapplying the complementary threaded distal yoke, the raised annularridge on its internal facing plane which receives the internal opendistal end of the floating cowling in a loose running fit. Thedetachability of this yoke allows a more rigid material such as harderplastic, wood or metal to be utilized as a durable and carvable cowlingconstruction material increasing cowling service life and decorativeoptions.

In yet another aspect of this invention, the distal and mid axial shaftretaining/aligning yokes are fixed to the axial shaft and shapedcap-like with elongated circumferential side walls replacing the yokeperimeter recessed raised annular concentric ridges as anretaining/aligning means for the floating cowling. The distal end of thefloating cowling—the leading end in this variation—is sloped on a biasallowing the leading end to be inserted—vertically raised—into thecap-like distal retaining/aligning yoke and, because the cowling'slongitudinal slit in this variation is aligned with, and slightly widerthan, the diameter of the spool-rod shaft, the body of the cowling willpass over the spool-rod shaft, moving slidabably upward, clearing themid-axial shaft yoke elongated circumferential side wall until thecowling is longitudinally parallel to the spool-rod shaft when it canthen be lowered into the cap-like mid-axial shaft retaining/aligningyoke. The internal circular planar faces of said opposed yokes are fixedlongitudinally on the axial shaft bracketing the spool-rod section adistance apart slightly greater than the length of the cowling. Each ofthese opposed retaining/aligning yokes has an outside perimetercircumferential side wall fixed and perpendicular to their respectivecircular internal planar faces and of a height above said planar facessuch that they are coextensive with the ends of the floating cowlingthey rotatably receive. The cap-like structures of said yokes with sidewalls have an internal diameter slightly greater than the externaldiameter of the floating cowling providing a loose running fitpermitting axial rotatability about the spool-rod shaft and slidableupward (longitudinal) removability just as with a removable window sashfrom tracked frame. The removal and replacement of this cowling can onlybe accomplished with the printed material unwound from the shaft as thelongitudinal slit is designed such that its opening width runs a closerunning fit with the spool-rod shaft diameter. In fact, this is theintent of the design, as when the printed material is wound even onerotation around the spool-rod shaft, the increased diameter dimensionthis imparts to the shaft is sufficient to ensure the cowling cannot beremoved or fall from its rotatable position around its longitudinalaxis.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the floatingcowling is supported in a rotatably receivable position along itslongitudinal axis around the spool-rod section by internal fixedcircumferential ridges on the cowling recessed from the distal andproximal cowling open ends at an internal distance apart substantiallyequal to the co-axially positioned retaining/aligning yokes of thespool-rod. In this variation, on rotatably receiving the floatingcowling around the spool-rod, the distal retaining/aligning yoke isdetachably joined to the spool-rod distal end which is threaded to bereceived by a threaded blind hole in the center of the interior facingsurface of the distal retaining/aligning yoke. The detachability of thedistal yoke and spool-rod at the distal end may be accomplished by otherattaching means with equal effectiveness such as opposed polarity rareearth magnets. The outer perimeter edge of the yokes and the cowlinginternal circumferential ridge face of the floating cowling meet in aloose running fit. The interior facing surface of the mid-axial shaftretaining/aligning yoke and the exterior facing surface of the floatingcowling proximal internal ridge and the interior facing surface of thedistal retaining/aligning yoke and exterior facing surface of thecowling distal internal ridge rest on each other with negligibleresistance to rotatability due to the light loads on the bearingsurfaces, the smoothness of the planar contact faces, and a symmetricalbut loose running fit because the retaining/aligning yokes have a radiusof curvature slightly less than the radius of curvature of the interiorof the floating cowling. The yokes are also positioned a distance aparton the axial shaft slightly greater than the distance apart of theinternal circumferential ridges of the cowling. The pressure of theflexible printed material being withdrawn into or extended from thecowling internal chamber through the cowling longitudinal slit willeasily overcome any static inertia of the cowling relative to the yokesand cause the cowling to freely rotate around the spool-rod. Unlikeother means in retaining the cowling as discussed for the presentinvention, this method conceals the retaining/aligning yokes creating alarger uninterrupted, and therefore more aesthetic, surface area for theviewing of art and/or indicia on the cowling external face.

In still another variation of the present invention, the handle means isdeleted and the free-floating cowling serves the dual purpose ofcontainment means and holding means. The tubular floating cowlingremains rotatably received by the distal—formerly called the mid axialshaft retaining/aligning yoke in the preceding summary—and proximalretaining/aligning yokes but is now gripped by one hand allowing thespool-rod and attached retaining/aligning yokes to spin feely relativeto the cowling as the flexible printed material is manually extendedthrough the cowling longitudinal slit by pulling on the pull-tab means.In this variation the printed material is still retracted into theinternal chamber of the cowling around the spool-rod by handmanipulation of either cap-like retaining/aligning yoke in a dial-likemanner. In this variation the cowling will be constructed of a rigidmaterial sufficiently strong enough to resist deformation when gripped.One of the retaining/aligning yokes will be threadably detachable or theyokes will be fixed to the spool-rod shaft and of the cap-like designthat permits the insertability of a rigid cowling and its retention inrotatable position by the partial coextension of the yoke cap sidewallsand the cowling distal and proximal ends.

Another objective of the present invention is for the exterior to beadaptable as a vehicle for the overt display of indicia and/or art of asubject or theme related to the printed material it is principallyintended to display such that the vendor and purchaser are overtly awareof the content subject matter of the display device when in theclosed/rolled up position. Through the direct association of the printedcontents and art/indicia on the visible portions of the cowling, handleand distal yoke surface, storage and display are made by logicalthematic groupings such as flags by nation or text by subject which willfacilitate inventory re-stocking and counting and customer selection inmuch the same manner, and for like reasons, as a retail book storestocks its shelves.

In another aspect of this invention, a second display device is employedto retract and extend the printed material instead of the pull-tab meanssuch that as the printed material being manually extended from onedevice it is being simultaneously rewound into the second. The distancebetween the devices which the operator chooses determines the amount ofexposed printed material desired to be viewed. In this embodiment of theinvention, both edges of the longitudinal axial slit of the floatingcowling must be adapted with a rolled edge or ski-tip type guides toprevent frictional binding of the face of the printed material againstthe cowling longitudinal slit which would otherwise bind and then wrapthe printed material around the cowling instead of permitting andenhancing its retraction into the receiving cowling chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and themanner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood byreferring to the following description and accompanying drawings.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the representative display device

FIG. 2 illustrates the snap-on cowling assembly

FIG. 3 illustrates the cowling no-bind ski tip ends

FIG. 4 illustrates the detachable distal yoke

FIG. 5 illustrates the slidably insertable cowling

FIG. 6 illustrates the concealed yoke mechanism

FIG. 7 illustrates twinned device variation

FIG. 8 illustrates the device handleless variation

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning to FIG. 1, the display device 100 conforming the presentinvention comprises an axial shaft 200 of two rotationally fixedsections, the handle means section 201 and the spool-rod means section202. A tubular housing designated by the inventors as the free floatingcowling 300 with internal chamber and longitudinal slit 301 ispositioned over the spool-rod means section 202 and restricted torotation around the spool-rod section about its longitudinal axis byspool-rod shaft distal end retaining/aligning yoke 203 and mid-axialshaft retaining/aligning yoke 204. The spool-rod means 202 is ofsubstantially reduced diameter with respect to the internal diameter ofthe floating cowling 300 so that ample spacing is left within thecowling internal chamber around the spool-rod 202 for the disposition ofthe printed flexible material 400. A continuous ribbon 400 of printedflexible material is attached at one end to the spool-rod means section202 and at its free end—the leading end—is attached to the pull-tabmeans 500 along its spine section 501 by which the flexible material isdrawn from the spool-rod 202 through the longitudinal slit 301 inconjunction with the simultaneous manual rotation of the handle section201 about its longitudinal axis. The manner of attaching the printedflexible material 400 to the spool-rod 202 can be achieved by a varietyof methods involving adhesives or low head profile fasteners such asstaples embedded in the body of the spool-rod 202. The fixed end of theprinted flexible material 400 must be attached to the spool-rod 202 suchthat it is always wound onto or withdrawn from the spool-rod at an angleof ninety degrees relative to the axis of the spool-rod. The pull tabmeans 500 is designed such that the spine 501 is of a length anddiameter that will, on full retraction, nest within the opening oflongitudinal slit 301 effectively sealing the slit opening into thefloating cowling but cannot be drawn inside. The pressure of theflexible printed material 400 being withdrawn into or extended from thefloating cowling 300 internal chamber through the cowling longitudinalslit 301 as the handle means 201 is rotated will easily overcome anystatic inertia of the floating cowling 300 relative to the axial shaft200 and cause the floating cowling 300 to freely rotate around thespool-rod 202 while being aligned by retaining/aligning yokes 203 and204. This manual action will expose a sequence of text or images to theeye of the viewer.

Now referring to FIG. 2, we see in cross section the display device 100in its simplest form comprising the axial shaft 200, itself comprised ofthe permanently engaged handle section 201 and spool-rod section 202,and the tubular housing of the floating cowling 300 positioned over thespool-rod section m202. The free floating cowling 300 is restricted torotation about its longitudinal axis by continuous concentric annularridges. 205 raised on the otherwise smooth, planar and mutually facingsurfaces of spool-rod distal end retaining/aligning yoke 203 andmid-axial shaft retaining/aligning yoke 204. Both retaining/aligningyokes 203 and 204 are rotationally and axially fixed to axial shaft 200,co-axially positioned and of a distance apart substantially equal to thelongitudinal length of the floating cowling 300 not only serving toclose the open ends of the floating cowling 300 but to rotatably supportand uniformly align the floating cowling 300 equidistant around thespool-rod 202. In this embodiment of the invention, the floating cowling300 is made of thin wall semi-rigid plastic which due to its elasticproperties permits the manual deformation of the cowling facilitatingits snap-on positioning between the retaining/aligning yokes 203 and 204and in a loose running fit around the outside perimeter of the raisedand recessed annular circumferential ridges 205 of the supportingretaining/aligning yokes 203 and 204. Annular ridges 205 have a squarecross section and rise perpendicular to the planar face of theretaining/aligning yokes 203 and 204 to an altitude above said planarfaces and of a distance apart substantially less than the longitudinallength of the floating cowling 300 sufficient to prevent the floatingcowling 300 from any alignment other than parallel to and radiallyequidistant around spool-rod means 202.

FIG. 3 is comprised of FIGS. 3A, and 3B. In FIG. 3B, the floatingcowling 300 with internal chamber is shown displaying longitudinal slit301 from which the flexible material 400, unrolled from spool-rod 202 iswithdrawn through and drawn into, and ski-tip guides 302 which preventfrictional binding of the printed material on retraction into theinterior chamber of the floating cowling 300. FIG. 3A shows the crosssection of the floating cowling 300—and how the spine section 501 of thepull tab means 500 nests into the longitudinal slit 301 with curled outedges (not shown in any figure) or ski tip guides 302 effectivelysealing the printed material 400 within the internal chamber and wrappedevenly around spool-rod 202.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention—100.1—wherein thespool-rod distal end retaining/aligning yoke 203 of FIG. 2 now becomesdetachably joined through threaded engagement 206 of the spool-rod shaftdistal end into the receiving threaded blind hole 207 in the body ofdistal retaining/aligning yoke, now designated 203.1. In this variation,the detachability of said distal retaining/aligning yoke 203.1 permitsthe use of a floating cowling 300 made of rigid material now placed inrotatable and uniformly parallel aligned position around the spool rod202 by lowering it over said distally unyoked spool-rod 202, over andaround the raised annular ridge 205 of mid-axial shaftretaining/aligning yoke 204, and then applying the threadably attacheddistal retaining/aligning yoke 203.1 such that its raised annular ridge205 internally engages the cowling in a loose running fit.

FIG. 5 shows another variation in the invention—100.2—wherein theretaining/aligning yokes 203.2 and 204.1 and the floating cowling 300.1represent variations in retaining/aligning yokes 203 and 204 andfloating cowling 300 from FIG. 1 that permit a rigid floating cowling tobe utilized in conjunction with a permanently engaged distal endretaining/aligning yoke 203.2. This is accomplished by slipping thedistal bias cut end of the floating cowling 300.1 slidably upward intodistal retaining/aligning yoke 203.2 which has elongated circumferentialside walls, while aligning the cowling longitudinal slit 301 andspool-rod 202 shaft and simultaneously sliding the cowling overspool-rod shaft 202 which must be unwound of printed material at thetime of insertion to present the smallest possible shaft diameter thatcan pass closely through the aligned cowling slot. After upwardlysliding the cowling 300.1 over spool-rod 202 the cowling is then loweredinto the round cap-like shape of mid-axial retaining/aligning yoke204.1—created by the elongated circumferential interior facing sidewalls of said mid-axial yoke—where it is rotatably received about itslongitudinal axis. The cowling length is sufficiently less than thedistance between the internal planar faces of the cap-likeretaining/aligning yokes 203.2 and 204.1 but such that it is stillrotatably retained by the elongated circumferential sidewalls of saidcap-like yokes working in tandem between which the cowling resides.

FIG. 6 shows another form of the present invention—100.3—in which thefloating cowling 300.2 is supported in a rotatably receivable positionalong its longitudinal axis around the spool-rod section 202 by twointernal fixed circumferential ridges 300.21 and 300.22 which encirclethe cowling interior peripheral wall and are recessed from the distaland proximal cowling open ends at an internal distance apartsubstantially equal to the distance between the co-axially fixedretaining/aligning yoke 204.2 and the threadably attachedretaining/aligning yoke 203.3 positions on axial shaft 200. In thisvariation, on rotatably receiving the floating cowling around thespool-rod 202, the distal retaining/aligning yoke 203.3 is detachablyjoined to spool-rod 202 distal end 206.1 which is threaded to bereceived by threaded blind hole 207.1 in the center of the interiorfacing surface of the distal retaining/aligning yoke 203.3. Thedetachability of distal retaining/aligning yoke 203.3 and spool-rod 202at the distal end may be accomplished by other attaching means withequal effectiveness; one such alternative means being opposed polarityrare earth magnets (no alternate attachment means are shown). The outerperimeter edge of the retaining/aligning yokes 204.2 and 203.3 and thecorresponding internal fixed circumferential ridges 300.21 and 300.22 ofthe floating cowling 300.2 rotationally engage in a loose running fit.The interior facing surface of the mid-axial shaft retaining/aligningyoke 204.2 and the exterior facing surface of the floating cowlingproximal internal ridge 300.21 and the interior facing surface of thedistal retaining/aligning yoke 203.3 and exterior facing surface of thecowling distal internal ridge 300.22 rest on each other with negligibleresistance to rotatability due to the light loads on the bearingsurfaces, the smoothness of the planar contact faces, and a symmetricalbut loose running fit because the yokes have a radius of curvatureslightly less than the radius of curvature of the interior of thefloating cowling 300.2 and because the retaining/aligning yokes arepositioned a distance apart on the axial shaft slightly greater than thedistance apart of the internal fixed circumferential ridges 300.21 and300.22 of the cowling 300.2. As with all other retaining/aligning meansdescribed as variations in the present invention, this method retainsthe cowling in a freely rotatable position equidistant around thespool-rod 202 in a restricted axial position relative to the axial shafthandle means 200.

FIG. 7 shows yet another aspect of the present invention—100.4—whichessentially comprises two structurally identical display devices, as perFIG. 1, now mutually connected by the printed flexible material 400adapting them to be held substantially apart and parallel to each otherby the twinned handle means's 201. By intermittently and simultaneouslyrotating both the first and second devices a sequence of text and/orimages is exposed to the eye of the viewer. It is in this form of thepresent invention that the ski-tip guides 302—which may also take theform of continuous outwardly rolled edges (not shown)—of thelongitudinal slits 301 (not shown in drawing) in the floating cowlings300 are required to prevent the binding of the flexible printed material400 against a straight cowling edge and consequently wrapping around thereceiving cowling as will be encountered by one unskilled or lessattentive in operating the device who applies less than optimum tensionbetween the twinned devices.

FIG. 8 illustrates the handleless variation of theinvention—100.5—wherein the floating cowling 300 is made of rigidmaterial so that it may serve as the hand grip means and theretaining/aligning yokes 205 and 206, either one of which yokes can bethreadably detachable, (this threaded detachability is not indicated inFIG. 8 but is mechanically as shown in FIG. 4: distal retaining/aligningyoke 203.1 and the threaded distal end 206, of spool-rod 202) are of anincreased profile depth such that they can effectively be utilized in adial-like manner to retract the printed material 400 within the floatingcowling 300 through longitudinal slot 301.

1. A hand held display device comprising a tubular housing having alongitudinal slit; a first spool rod retained within the tubularhousing, the first spool rod having a distal end and a proximal end; adistal aligning yoke coupled to the distal end of the first spool rod aproximal aligning yoke coupled to the proximal end of the first spoolrod, the distal aligning yoke and the proximal aligning yoke configuredto rotationally support and axially align the tubular housing around thefirst spool rod to allow free rotation of the tubular housing about thefirst spool rod; a flexible material having a fixed end and a free end,the fixed end coupled to the first spool rod; a pull tab coupled to thefree end of the flexible material, the pull tab configured to preventthe free end of the flexible material from passing through thelongitudinal slit into the tubular housing; whereby the flexiblematerial is movable through the longitudinal slit between a retractedposition having the flexible material wrapped around the first spool rodinside the tubular housing and an extended position having a majority ofthe flexible material outside the tubular housing
 2. (canceled)
 3. Ahand held display device as in claim 1 further comprising a handlecoupled to the proximal end of the first spool rod.
 4. A hand helddisplay device as in claim 1 wherein the tubular housing comprisesflexible plastic material.
 5. A hand held display device as in claimclaim 1 wherein the distal aligning yoke is coupled to the distal end ofthe first spool rod via a threaded connection, the distal aligning yokehaving a raised annular ridge for receiving the flexible tubularhousing.
 6. A hand held display device as in claim 5 wherein the tubularhousing is comprised of one of rigid plastic, wood and metal.
 7. A handheld display device as in claim 1 wherein the distal aligning yoke has adistal raised annular ridge along an outer circumference of the distalaligning yoke; and wherein the proximal aligning yoke has a proximalraised annular ridge along the outer circumference of the proximalaligning yoke, the distal and proximal raised annular ridges configuredto rotationally support and axially align the tubular housing around thefirst spool rod.
 8. A hand held display device comprising a tubularhousing having a longitudinal slit; a first spool rod retained withinthe tubular housing, the first spool rod having a distal end and aproximal end; a distal aligning yoke coupled to the distal end of thefirst spool rod; a proximal aligning yoke coupled to the proximal end ofthe first spool rod, the distal aligning yoke and the proximal aligningyoke configured to rotationally support and axially align the tubularhousing around the first spool rod to allow free rotation of the tubularhousing about the first spool rod; a flexible material having a fixedend and a free end, the fixed end coupled to the first spool rod;whereby the flexible material is movable through the longitudinal slitbetween a retracted position having the flexible material wrapped aroundthe first spool rod inside the tubular housing and an extended positionhaving a majority of the flexible material outside the tubular housing;wherein the tubular housing has two internal circumferential ridgesconfigured to rotationally support the tubular housing with respect tothe distal aligning yoke and the proximal aligning yoke. 9-11.(canceled)
 12. A hand held display device comprising a tubular housinghaving a longitudinal slit; a first spool rod retained within thetubular housing, the first spool rod having a distal end and a proximalend; a distal aligning yoke coupled to the distal end of the first spoolrod; a proximal aligning yoke coupled to the proximal end of the firstspool rod, the distal aligning yoke and the proximal aligning yokeconfigured to rotationally support and axially align the tubular housingaround the first spool rod to allow free rotation of the tubular housingabout the first spool rod; a flexible material having a fixed end and afree end, the fixed end coupled to the free end first spool rod; wherebythe flexible material is movable through the longitudinal slit between aretracted position having the flexible material wrapped around the firstspool rod inside the tubular housing and an extended position having amajority of the flexible material outside the tubular housing; furthercomprising ski tip guides coupled to the tubular housing adjacent to thelongitudinal slit, the ski tip guides configured to assist in retractingthe flexible material through the longitudinal slit.
 13. A hand helddisplay device as in claim 13 wherein the tubular housing furthercomprises continuous outwardly rolled edges coupled to the tubularhousing adjacent to the longitudinal slit, the continuous outwardlyrolled edges configured to assist in retracting the flexible materialthrough the longitudinal slit.
 14. A hand held display device as inclaim 13 wherein the tubular housing further comprises continuousoutwardly rolled edges coupled to the tubular housing adjacent to thelongitudinal slit, the continuous outwardly rolled edges configured toassist in retracting the flexible material through the longitudinalslit.